For us, Labor Day is the last day of summer. I drove my older daughter back to boarding school this morning and the air smelled different in Connecticut and the trees were starting to turn. Although I am ready for a change of seasons, the end of this summer is bittersweet. My younger daughter tells me that “summer would not be special if it lasted all year”. So true.

There are a plethora of matching tops and bottoms in the Fall collections. Miuccia Prada brought back the traditional pantsuit (jacket & trousers), but I prefer a matching tunic and pant; best example is the bright blue one from her Miu Miu show. I also love the J. Crew coordinating printed foulard pieces. And the Valentino dress over a matching pant is great too.

A pantsuit is a simple silhouette and such an easy way to dress. Whichever way you choose to put this look together, I think this is a trend with staying power.

There have been a lot of collaborations, especially recently, in the world of fashion. But none is as exciting and downright cool as the teaming-up of Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing and KiC favorite, jewelry designer Aurelie Bidermann. The duo co-designed the first Balmain handbag, which appears sleek and simple, yet surprisingly luxurious. This tote looks like a must-have for fall.

As sad as I am that summer is winding down, I love the change in the weather. Last week there was an article in the NYT’s on seasonal change (and fewer work hours) and how it’s important for our creativity and productivity- I couldn’t agree more. The cooler evenings foretell fall days to come, and although it is too early to bring out most of my new purchases, sweaters are the perfect transition pieces. This season, there are tons of new shapes, textures and prints beyond the classic cardigan. Thrown over a sundress or white jeans, a fisherman knit or intarsia print is the perfect topper for end of summer picnics and fireworks.

Marni Geometric wool-blend sweater

Isabel Marant chunky-knit wool and alpaca sweater

Proenza Schouler Intarsia knit pullover

Ralph Lauren Cashmere cape

And my favorite and most versatile piece in my wardrobe, the cashmere poncho. I throw mine over everything from jeans to cocktail dresses.

Maine, glorious Maine. My favorite state without a doubt. Cool evenings in August, lobster and good friends; I cannot think of a better destination. I packed little cotton dresses and fisherman knit sweaters and hit my favorite spots as we drove up the coast.

One of the best shops by far, is Sugar Tools. On a side street in Camden, this small and perfect store carries the softest tees, handmade leather sandals, some Roberta Freymann pieces, vintage-y housewares, garden accessories, and much more. I picked up a book on canning, lemon verbena room spray, a pine pillow, and a few other odds and ends. Sugar Tools is a destination in itself.

Recently, I wrote a post Blue polish? which challenged my thinking on nail colors. The spate of women sporting blue and purple toes this summer intrigued me. But when I went for a pre-vineyard pedicure, I couldn’t do it. I am resigned to being a nude, barely there, nail color person.

As I start buying some key fall pieces and am falling in love with black all over again (a big thank you to the September issue of Paris Vogue which is devoted to the goth color), I am loving my colorless nails all the more. I have to admit that the pressure to avoid black as the world was print and color crazed was tough-going.

Priscilla Woolworth photographed at home by Agnes Baddoo for Keep it Chic

It is no secret that I am focused on creating a more eco-friendly home. So, when my friend (and Style Setter) Agnes Baddoo suggested we cover her friend Priscilla Woolworth, I jumped at the chance. Although born in New York City, Priscilla spent much of her childhood in the south of France. It was there that she developed a deep appreciation for a simple, eco-centric, yet stylish lifestyle. Summers in Maine at her storied family’s retreat, Clearview Farm, (Priscilla is a descendant of one of the founders of F.W.Woolworth of the “five and dime” stores), solidified her commitment to the environment. These days, Priscilla lives in Los Angeles where she runs priscillawoolworth.com, an online general store and monthly almanac she founded that offers eco-friendly and socially responsible products, and advice and information about living a sustainable lifestyle. It’s a truly modern version of the famed Woolworth stores and legacy.

The mother of two daughters with Cassian Elwes, Arielle, 22, and Lucie, 20, Priscilla is an inspiring KiC profile.

Photographed by Agnes Baddoo for Keep it Chic

How did your childhood help form your dedication to the environment? Growing up in the south of France exposed me to such a gorgeous way of living by my French family who really knew how to create a lovely quality of life by making a simple yet beautiful environment at home. We all enjoyed what nature brought during the different seasons, the foods and flowers in particular. Spending my summers in Maine opened up my eyes to the beauty of trees, dragonflies and wildflowers and it was there that I realized how vital it is to protect nature. Living in California made it all come together; the indoor life and the outdoor life. They can be lived in a way that is environmentally responsible. All you need to know is how easy it is to do.

What are 3 things everyone could do easily to help the environment?
1) Buy food packaged in glass jars you can reuse for food storage or other uses, reducing the amount of trash you make and saving money on buying food storage containers. 2) Buy school or office supplies made from recycled paper or materials. 3) Use non-toxic suntan lotion at the beach, which is better for you and also for the water you swim in to cool off. Suntan oils and lotions pollute the water and endanger the sea creatures.

Tell me about composting… Composting rocks! I keep a compost pail, one from my store, by my kitchen sink and fill it up with veggie kitchen scraps. I empty the pail into my Valentina composter. After a few months, it breaks down into nutritious compost material, which I add to my vegetable garden, where I grow the vegetables that I pick, etc. The cycle comes full circle and starts up again. I love that.

Whose style do you admire? Jane Goodall for her kindness towards animals and her simple chic.

Which eco-friendly designers do you like? Stella McCartney for her all around earth friendliness and Liya Kebede for her activism and humanitarian work with her brand LemLem.

Favorite books and movies: Books: Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck; Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder; Interpreter of the Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, … Movies: My Man Godfrey; Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring; Seraphine; Nowhere in Africa; Whale Rider; The Chorus.

Favorite summer dish: Salad Niçoise in a bowl or stuffed inside a crusty piece of bread like they do in the south of France, called a Pan Bagnat.

A day with your daughters is…Doing a project together that involves us staying home and having a great time, then cooking dinner together, eating it by candlelight in the kitchen, sharing stories and laughing the night away.

A perfect day alone is…Not being in a hurry and staying in my pajamas until mid-morning, having breakfast and pottering around the garden, going for a swim, lunch out somewhere yummy and beautiful, taking photos while I’m out and about, catching up on my New Yorkers, The Week and English Elle Decoration back at home while drinking a cup of tea…

Keeps me sane…My cameras because I love shooting images every day and then sharing all my news in my monthly Almanac blog.

Many of my friends will be surprised to hear that the scarf is making a fashion return. To them, it never went out of style. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with the traditional printed silk scarf. I love them in theory, but feel they age me. It reminds me of Jennifer’s post Am I too old?. The classic scarf is a staple of my mother’s generation and a way for women to “add a dash of color”. I have a vast collection of Hermes scarves that have sat unworn for years. I tried them as belts with white jeans, knotted into halters, and tied them to my handbag. But around my neck, or worse, on my head a la Jackie, has been a no go. So, I have given several away.

However, leave it to Phoebe Philo of Celine to bring the scarf back into the fore for Fall. The Celine version is leather, which certainly makes it more interesting. Will I go there? Maybe. Somehow, Phoebe makes everything chic and I am willing to try again.

Top of my list this summer was to replace my aviators. The search was on for a pair with gold frames, amber lenses and most importantly, they must be comfortable atop my head (when in the market, etc.). There are a lots of great ones out there- I tried Oliver Peoples’ Benedict, Tom Ford’s Charles, the classic Ray Bans (like Jennifer’s in the previous post) and the Vargas by Salt. Just when I thought I had tried them all, I found the Flight by Dita, and they were it. These sunglasses are lightweight titanium and the perfect shape and size for my face. They are keepers.

I am on Martha’s Vineyard, where I have summered my entire life. One of my favorite spots to pick up little cotton summer dresses for under $50, tunics, summer scarves, straw market baskets, and flip-flops, is an itty-bitty shop in Aquinnah called On The Cliffs. The name is apt, as the shop literally sits at the top of the famed Gay Head cliffs.

Yesterday I picked up an adorable navy cotton dress with navy embroidery for a mere $30. Along with a new rope bracelet and a lobster roll (both can be bought right there as well), I am in full vacation mode.

After 20 years casting models for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and fashion shows, I wanted to spend more time with my daughters. KiC is my way to share my thoughts on fashion and style. I believe style should permeate every aspect of our lives — from home, to family, to where we go, and naturally, what we wear — especially when we're just running around. — Preston Davis